Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
The fox was introduced into southern Victoria in 1855 to be hunted. But these animals soon spread from their original home to become one of Australia's most widely-spread feral animals.
Its quick spread was remarkable. By 1893, some shires in Victoria had a bounty on foxes and by 1917 foxes had reached west of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
Next to the dingo and the feral dog, the fox is Australia's largest predator on land and has played a major role in the decline of some native animals.
What does it look like?
With big ears, bushy tail and distinctive markings, the fox is an easy animal to spot.
Males weigh 4-8kg, females 4-6kg.
The fox's coat can vary in colour and pattern. Reddish-brown above, the fox has a whitish chin, throat, chest and belly. It has a distinctive tip on its bushy tail, usually white but often black or dark red.
Where does it live?
Usually nocturnal, the fox rests during the day in a den, thicket, hollow log or leaning tree. Availability of food and shelter mostly determines where a fox can live.
The fox doesn't favour any particular habitat and is found in deserts, woodlands and towns. Outside of the cities, foxes seem most abundant in lightly wooded areas typical of farming areas where a wide variety of food and shelter are available.
But the fox doesn't live in tropical Australia or Tasmania. Climate or greater numbers of dingoes may limit the spread of foxes in these areas.
The fox's territory is usually about 2-5 square kilometres for a family group. Urine and faeces are used to scent-mark territories.
What does it eat?
Mainly a meat-eater, the fox is an opportunistic predator and scavenger. Food will vary depending on the season, with wild fruits and insects important in summer and small mammals important in winter.
As a predator, the fox has had a serious impact on some rare and threatened native animals. It also hunts farm livestock such as lambs.
Foxes have even been known to raid loggerhead turtle nests on the beach, eating the eggs. This is of particular concern at Mon Repos Conservation Park.
How does it breed?
Foxes breed once a year with cubs born during August and September. Foxes become sexually mature in their first year.
Nearly all adult females are fertile and more than four cubs are usually born in each litter. This means the fox has high reproductive success.
But shooting, trapping, road kills and droughts mean a fox doesn't live much past four years of age.
Unfortunately, these factors alone are not enough to control fox numbers.
Impact
For some time foxes have been known to have a substantial impact on the decline of certain Australian animals.
As these animals didn't evolve with the fox present, they have not developed suitable strategies for protection from the fox.
Smaller ground-dwelling mammals that have had their habitat reduced by land clearing are particularly at risk from the fox.
If not controlled, the fox could wipe out animals such as the numbat and black-footed rock-wallaby.
Foxes also hunt lambs. This may cause significant economic losses to farmers in areas where fox numbers are high.
Disease is another factor as the fox is a potential carrier of rabies. This disease can be passed on to people, farm animals and native animals. Once established, rabies is difficult to control.
How can it be controlled?
Foxes are usually controlled by shooting, trapping and poisoning. Research is trying to refine these conventional methods and also to evaluate biological controls.
A bounty system was in place for fox control; a person was paid money for each fox killed. This proved to be ineffective due to unethical practices, high costs and removal of animals that would have died of natural causes anyway.
Immunocontraception is a likely biological control, which would suppress fertility in foxes. This would be probably be spread through baits but a viral agent could also do the job.
In the past, diseases such as mange and distemper and hunting pressure (due to high skin prices) have affected numbers of the fox. But no evidence suggests that deliberate control measures have limited numbers or range in the long term.
Further Information
Department of Natural Resources 8.30am-5pm Monday-Friday
144 Edward Street
GPO Box 2454
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Tel: (07) 3227 6626 Fax: (07) 3227 8758
International Tel: +61 7 3227 6626
International Fax: +61 7 3227 8758 or contact your local authority.
Last updated: 24 August 2006